Piste-maintenance tracklaying vehicle

ABSTRACT

A piste-maintenance tracklaying vehicle including a vehicle control unit and an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine is drivingly connected via a gear to a drive sprocket of at least one track. Accessory drives for additional devices are mountable on the tracklaying vehicle, and may include vehicle components such as a tilting device for a platform and driver&#39;s cab or track tensioner. An internal combustion engine is connected via a generator and at least one electric motor and a gear to each drive sprocket. In overrun mode an electric motor is switchable as a current generator for accessory drives designed as electrohydraulic or electric drives. The electric drive for a shaft of said additional device is electrically synchronized with the electric motor of said drive sprocket through the vehicle control unit.

[0001] The present invention relates to a piste-maintenance tracklayingvehicle comprising an internal combustion engine which is drivinglyconnected, preferably via a gear, to a drive sprocket of each track, andaccessory drives for additional devices that are mountable on thepiste-maintenance vehicle, such as rotary snow plow, front snow plowblower, or the like, and/or for vehicle components, such as a tiltingdevice for platform and driver's cab or for track tensioning.

[0002] Such a tracklaying vehicle is known in practice, with ahydrostatic drive being normally provided for the tracks. The drive isoperated by the internal combustion engine, with a gear being optionallyprovided between internal combustion engine and hydrostatic gear ordrive sprocket for controlling the individual tracks. Furthermore, sucha tracklaying vehicle has a number of additional devices, such as arotary snow plow, a front snow plow blower, a winch drive, or the like.Furthermore, adjusting mechanisms for the corresponding device carriersor for a snow clearing blade are provided for the additional devices oralso for further vehicles means, tilting devices are provided, forinstance, for the driver's cab or a platform, as well as a tracktensioner, or the like.

[0003] The prior-art tracklaying vehicle has the disadvantage that thehydrostatic drive for the tracks is relatively heavy and the total drivesystem for the tracklaying vehicle is of a relatively poor efficiency.

[0004] It is therefore the object of the present invention to improve atracklaying vehicle of the above-mentioned type in such a manner thatthe tracklaying vehicle is more lightweight with the positivecharacteristics of the prior-art drive of the tracklaying vehicle beingmaintained, and that the efficiency of the tracklaying vehicle drive isincreased at the same time, as well as the uniformity of pistemaintenance.

[0005] In a tracklaying vehicle comprising the features of the preambleof claim 1, this object is achieved in that the internal combustionengine is connected via a generator and at least one electric motor andpossibly via a gear to each drive sprocket and that in the overrun modethe electric motor is switchable as a current generator for accessorydrives designed as electrohydraulic or electric drives, with at leastthe electric drive for a shaft of the snow plow being synchronized withthe electric motor of the drive sprocket.

[0006] In comparison with a known hydrostatic drive, the inventive useof generator and of at least one electric motor yields an equally goodprotection against and resistance to environmental factors andoverloading. At the same time, the electric motor permits a precisecontrol of the power transmission; due to the increased efficiency ofthe electric drive system the latter yields an identical or evenincreased tractive force on the drive sprocket and a vehicle performancecomparable to or even better than that of a hydrostatic drive.

[0007] In the absence of all of the hydraulic components of thehydrostatic drive in the drive train, the inventive use of generator andelectric motor considerably reduces the weight for the tracklayingvehicle. Furthermore, difficulties which might arise from sealing andfrom the hydraulic medium supply of the hydrostatic drive are notobserved.

[0008] Generator and electric motor and the corresponding connectionsbetween said members and to the internal combustion engine can beinstalled easily and without any major changes on the main frame of thetracklaying vehicle. Furthermore, an electric motor is exactlycontrollable in its performance and can be used as a brake duringdownhill driving or in the overrun mode, with energy being possibly fedback at the same time due to the generator effect of the electric motor.

[0009] In addition to an improved efficiency of the drive system, suchan energy feedback effects a further reduction of the energyconsumption, as the energy gained can for instance be used directly foroperating the accessory drives for the additional devices.

[0010] The accessory drives for the additional devices which aremountable on the vehicle and/or for further vehicle components can bedesigned as electrohydraulic or electric drives. Electric drives may forinstance be preferred for rotatory movements, for instance for a shaftof the rotary snow plow, for a front snow plow blower with screw andblower wheel, for a winch drive, or the like. Electrohydraulic drivescan be used for the adjusting mechanisms at the front and rear on thetracklaying vehicle, for a parking brake, for tilting devices, for thetrack tensioner, or the like. The adjusting mechanisms serve, forinstance, to adjust the corresponding device carrier at the front andrear and for adjusting various additional devices, such as front snowplow blower or snow clearing blade. A tilting device on the tracklayingvehicle serves to tilt the driver's cab or to tilt a loading platform ofthe tracklaying vehicle.

[0011] To ensure a defined number of tooth engagements of the snow plowshaft per distance covered, and thus uniform piste maintenance work, itfurther turns out to be of advantage when the electric drive for thesnow plow shaft is synchronized with the electric motor for the drivesprocket. The shaft speed and traveling speed can thus be adapted toeach other.

[0012] For instance, for exactly controlling each drive sprocket as suchand thus for steering, for instance, the tracklaying vehicle throughdifferent rotational speeds of the drive sprockets, it turns out to beadvantageous when each drive sprocket is connected to a separateelectric motor.

[0013] For a corresponding motional connection of electric motor anddrive sprocket, a planetary gear may be arranged between said members ina manner which is known per se or a steering gear may be arranged whenonly one electric motor is used for both drive sprockets.

[0014] When an electric motor is used for each drive sprocket, theelectric motors can be coupled with one another when one of the electricmotors fails. As a result, the tracklaying vehicle can also be movedonwards with only one electric motor.

[0015] When only one electric motor and one steering gear are used,these members can for instance be arranged centrally on the tracklayingvehicle, whilst planetary gears and drive sprocket form one respectiveunit and are spatially assigned to each track. Likewise, the planetarygears for the two drive sprockets of each track and the steering gearcan form a unit which is for instance arranged on the vehicle in centralfashion and is connected to the drive sprockets via a mechanicalcoupling of its own.

[0016] Instead of the electrohydraulic drives for the correspondinglinear movements and small consumers, corresponding electric drives canalso be used.

[0017] When electrohydraulic drives are used, it is of advantage forreasons of environmental protection when the corresponding hydraulicmedium for the drive is a medium based on water.

[0018] To store the recovered energy which is not directly needed,during downhill driving or in the overrun mode of the tracklayingvehicle, the tracklaying vehicle may be designed in a further variantwith an energy buffer as an additional device which can be fed by thegenerator or an electric motor operating as a generator. Such an energybuffer may be a conventional battery, a flywheel storage means, or thelike.

[0019] To control the vehicle drive with internal combustion engine,generator and electric motor and to produce and distribute energy, thetracklaying vehicle comprises an electronic high-performance means atleast for controlling travel motors and/or the accessory drives. Forinstance, speed, frequency and current intensity of the electric travelmotors, of the snow plow drive, the drives of an electric winch or anelectric front snow plow blower, or the like, can be controlled by theelectronic high-performance means. Furthermore, the vehicle control unitin cooperation with the electronic high-performance means can controlthe energy production of internal combustion engine/generator and ofelectric motors or the energy consumption by the electric motors.Furthermore, the electronic means controls the switching of the electricmotor to the current generator and thus to the energy supplier duringdownhill driving or in the overrun mode.

[0020] To use the internal combustion engine in a manner which isoptimum for consumption and with less emissions, it is also advantageouswhen the internal combustion engine has an electronic engine control.The electronic engine control unit can communicate with the drivecontrol unit or the electronic high-performance means and can becontrolled by said means for controlling the engine speed in response tothe amount of energy actually required.

[0021] When at least the electrohydraulic drives are arranged in adecentralized manner and comprise an electric motor, a pump, a controlblock and a hydraulic medium tank, the corresponding hydraulic lines canbe relatively short and said decentralized electrohydraulic drives maybe fed via electric lines. As a result, said electrohydraulic drives canbe arranged as compact units in the vicinity of the consumers proper. Agear pump may for instance be used as a corresponding pump for thehydraulic medium.

[0022] It is here also of relevance that such an electrohydraulic drivecan, for instance, feed a plurality of consumers, such as a drivers cabtilting means and track tensioner, or the like.

[0023] To ensure easy access to the electronic high-performance meansand to permit connections to all consumers that are as short aspossible, the electronic high-performance means is centrally arranged inthe tracklaying vehicle for distributing energy to all consumers and forenergy feedback.

[0024] When all components of the tracklaying vehicle, in particular theelectronic means and also the drive train, are composed as modules, thecorresponding modules can be inserted or supplemented in all types ofthe tracklaying vehicles. The modules have corresponding standardizedinterfaces.

[0025] For additionally braking the tracklaying vehicle duringstandstill and for increasing safety, the tracklaying vehicle cancomprise a parking brake, in particular a multidisc brake which isintegrated in the planetary gearing.

[0026] When the tracklaying vehicle has a winch structure, with thewinch including an electric drive, the drive may also be designed forenergy feedback during downhill driving. The recovered energy can, forinstance, be used for driving the snow plow shaft or other accessorydrives.

[0027] To feed the tracklaying vehicles externally with energy, inparticular electric energy, the vehicle may comprise an energy feedingmeans. Preferably, said means is designed as a trailing cable or as acoupling system which can be coupled with contact wires or currentrails.

[0028] In particular in frequently traveled sections of the pistes, thetracklaying vehicle can thus be moved without any emissions, whileenergy is fed through the contact wires or current rails. At the sametime, the energy buffers of the vehicle can be loaded.

[0029] Corresponding current rails can, for instance, be mounted alonglift sections or at the piste edge at a sufficiently safe height. Thesecurrent rails may be carriers for floodlight installations at the sametime. Furthermore, the tracklaying vehicle may alternatively beconnected with its energy feeding means to current sources which arearranged at specific locations, for instance along the piste.

[0030] It should here be noted that in tracklaying vehicles which arepreferably used with indoor skiing, energy is exclusively supplied viathe energy feeding means. In such a case the internal combustion enginewith corresponding generator and the necessary accessory units, such asengine cooling system, starters, dynamo, fuel tank, starter battery,etc. can be dispensed with. During a purely electric operation of thetracklaying vehicle, the weight is further reduced considerably.

[0031] Coupling to the contact wires or the current rails can be carriedout via a winch structure, with the external electric energy beingsupplied via a line to the reel.

[0032] For instance, in order to use and feed several tracklayingvehicles jointly when pistes are being maintained, such a tracklayingvehicle equipped with an external electric energy supply can comprise aninterconnection means for energetic connection to at least one furthertracklaying vehicle. Electric energy can thereby be transmitted betweenthe connected tracklaying vehicles. Of course, a plurality oftracklaying vehicles can be interconnected in this manner.

[0033] The novel drive train of the tracklaying vehicle offers manypossibilities of heating the tracklaying vehicle. The vehicle can, forinstance, be supplied with exhaust heat from the engines and motors(diesel and/or electric) and/or the hydraulic system and/or theelectronic high-performance means. Furthermore, an electric heatingmeans may for instance be used in addition.

[0034] For a simplified operation or control of the tracklaying vehicle,the latter may comprise a setpoint transmitter at least for the desiredtraveling speed. The transmitter may be designed as a standardaccelerator. The traveling speed is selected through the correspondingposition of the setpoint transmitter and the electric motor speed isadjusted accordingly.

[0035] In an advantageous embodiment the electronic high-performancemeans and the vehicle control unit, respectively, are connected to thesetpoint transmitter and comprise an electronic evaluation means atleast with a stored consumption-optimum speed characteristic for theinternal combustion engine.

[0036] Depending on the travel resistance, the corresponding setpoint isconverted into a corresponding high-performance requirement and into aspeed predetermined for the internal combustion engine by the electronicmeans in consideration of the instantaneous power requirements of otherconsumers, such as the accessory drives or the like. Aconsumption-optimum speed is predetermined by the speed characteristicfor the power output required.

[0037] Operative states in the partial load range that isdisadvantageous for consumption are avoided by the inventive control.For instance, the electronic means can effect a readjustment, i.e.speeding up of the internal combustion engine along aconsumption-optimum curve of the characteristic until the speedpredetermined by the setpoint transmitter (accelerator) or thecorresponding electric motor speed is again reached.

[0038] For instance, in order to achieve an increased tooth engagementfrequency per distance in the case of rough pistes, the gear ratio ofsnow plow shaft to drive sprocket can be adjusted. This can, forinstance, be carried out via a snow plow potentiometer.

[0039] To simplify and accelerate maintenance and inspection of thetracklaying vehicle, a diagnosis means may be arranged on thetracklaying vehicle. The diagnosis means is preferably designed as adiagnosis box through which the electric control, in particular,including the electronic high-performance means of the tracklayingvehicle, can be checked in a manner which is known per se.

[0040] In a simple embodiment a setpoint transmitter may be designed asan accelerator for predetermining the vehicle speed. The driver choosesthe desired travel speed through the accelerator position. In adevelopment of the invention, the speed corresponds to a setpoint forthe electric motor speed. The setpoint is also predetermined for areduction of the speed, so that the vehicle can be braked by a slightoperation of the accelerator.

[0041] Depending on the actual travel resistance during uphill ordownhill driving, a corresponding performance requirement, i.e. acorresponding drive or brake performance, is produced by the setpoint ofthe electric motor speed. It is here of advantage when such an actualperformance requirement is converted by the electronic means into aspeed predetermined for the diesel engine, and it is also of advantagewhen the speed which is consumption-optimum for the power outputrequired is predetermined by means of a characteristic control throughthe electronic means. Operative states in a partial load range which isdisadvantageous for consumption are thereby avoided.

[0042] For instance during uphill driving, the electronic means effectsa running up of the diesel engine along the consumption-optimum curve ofthe characteristic until the speed which is predetermined by theaccelerator, or the electric motor speed is again reached. During abraking operation, the braking current control and the electric travelmotors, respectively, are controlled via the electronic travel means.The electric travel motors operate as generators in such a case and feedenergy back into the system. The remaining energy for other consumers,for instance a rotary snow plow, is provided by the internal combustionengine which is controlled as above. When there is excessive energy ofthe total system for a short period of time, for instance in case of arapid emergency stop, the excessive energy is discharged in theconventional manner via brake resistors.

[0043] To facilitate starting and stopping operations on a hill, thevehicle has an additional safety logic. This logic may be part of theelectronic means of the vehicle control unit or the electronichigh-performance means. The electronic safety means checks at least theposition of a traveling direction switch, the actuation of theaccelerator and the parking brake.

[0044] A start during uphill or downhill driving is, for instance,effected in that in successive order the traveling direction switch isoperated, the parking brake is released, the vehicle is prevented fromrolling by means of power-supplied electric motors, the accelerator isoperated and the piste-maintenance vehicle is moved in the end. In adevelopment of the invention, the parking brake is operatedautomatically, a release of the parking brake being effected duringstart upon operation of the accelerator.

[0045] A stopping operation during uphill or downhill driving iseffected by means of a safety logic in that in successive order theaccelerator position is moved to the zero position, whereby thepiste-maintenance vehicle is slowed down in a controlled manner andstopped, the vehicle is prevented from rolling by a further power supplyto the electric motors, the parking brake is automatically operatedafter a defined stopping time, and the power supply to the electricmotors is terminated and the internal combustion engine is furtheroperated in the idling speed mode. The traveling direction switch canthen be moved to the neutral position.

[0046] The above-described control by means of a setpoint or by means ofthe safety logic can be performed through a separate electronic controlmeans or an electronic means contained in the vehicle control unit orthe electronic high-performance means.

[0047] Advantageous embodiments of the present invention will now beexplained and described in more detail with reference to the figuresattached to the drawing, in which:

[0048]FIG. 1 is a block diagram regarding drive and supply of atracklaying vehicle;

[0049]FIG. 2 shows various variants of arranging electric motors andgears;

[0050]FIG. 3 is a side view of a first embodiment of a tracklayingvehicle; and

[0051]FIG. 4 is a side view of a further embodiment of a tracklayingvehicle of the invention.

[0052]FIG. 1 is a block diagram for drive and supply with additionaldevices and further vehicle components.

[0053] An internal combustion engine 2 is drivingly connected to agenerator 10 for producing electric energy. Furthermore, the internalcombustion engine 2 drives a dynamo 27 by which a corresponding vehiclebattery 26 can be charged.

[0054] An electronic high-performance means 21 which can be fed withcurrent from the generator 10 is centrally arranged in the tracklayingvehicle 1, of which FIG. 1 only shows the principle. The electronichigh-performance means 21 controls downstream electric motors 11, 12 fordriving the tracklaying vehicle 1. These motors are drivingly connectedvia corresponding gears 3, 13, 14 to the drive sprockets 4 of the tracksof the tracklaying vehicle 1.

[0055] Energy and information flows between the individual componentsare represented in FIG. 1 by the directions of arrows. For instance,energy flows from the electronic high-performance means 21 via theelectric motors 11, 12 and gears 3, 13, 14 to the drive sprockets 4.During downhill driving or in the overrun mode the drive sprockets 4inversely drive the electric motors 11, 12 via the gears 3, 13, 14 sothat these motors can be used as generators and feed energy back via theelectronic high-performance means 21.

[0056] Furthermore, there is provided a vehicle control unit 28 which onthe basis of corresponding predetermined setpoints of accelerator 29 andsteering wheel 30 controls as a setpoint transmitter both the internalcombustion engine 2 and the electronic high-performance means 21 andtransmits the setpoints as control variables.

[0057] Depending on the power consumption, the electronichigh-performance means 21 can influence the engine speed of the internalcombustion engine 2 via the vehicle control unit 28.

[0058] Furthermore, the electronic high-performance means 21 isconnected to various accessory drives 6. Two of the accessory drives 6are formed as electrohydraulic drives 18 with electric motor, hydraulicpump and corresponding hydraulic medium supply vessel. These accessorydrives are assigned to a front control block 22 and a rear control block23, respectively.

[0059] Two further accessory drives are designed as electric motors 19,optionally with associated gear. One of said accessory drives serves todrive an additional device 7, such as an electric winch by which energycan also be fed back to the electronic high-performance means 21 inaccordance with the direction of arrow during downhill driving or in theoverrun mode.

[0060] The other accessory drive 6 with the electric drive 19 isassigned to a further additional device 8, such as a rotary snow plow.

[0061] Finally, in a further embodiment the electronic high-performancemeans 21 is additionally connected to an energy buffer 20, such as abattery or a flywheel storage means, for storing and supplying energy.

[0062]FIG. 2 shows four different examples of arranging the electricmotors 11, 12, associated gears 3, 13, 14 and drive sprockets 4.

[0063] In the example which is illustrated at the left side, a separateelectric motor 11, 12 is provided for each drive sprocket of a track ofthe tracklaying vehicle. Corresponding gears 13, 14, which may bedesigned as planetary gears, are directly assigned to each drivesprocket 4, with the electric motors being centrally assigned to thevehicle frame, and the gears 13, 14 and drive sprockets 4 in spatiallydirect fashion to the tracks.

[0064] In the subsequent example of arrangement, the electric motors 11,12 with the interposed gears 13, 14 are directly arranged at the drivesprockets 4 and are thus directly assigned to the tracks.

[0065] In the next example of arrangement, an electric motor 11, 12 isprovided which via a steering gear 3 is assigned to both planetary gears13, 14 with associated drive sprocket 4. In this example, the electricmotor 11, 12 and the steering gear 3 are centrally arranged on thevehicle frame, and the planetary gears 13, 14 are directly assigned tothe drive sprockets 4.

[0066] In the last-mentioned example of arrangement, the steering gear 3and the planetary gears 13, 14 are combined to form a unit and, like theindividual electric motor 11, 12, are centrally arranged on the vehicleframe. In this case, it is only the drive sprockets 4 that are directlyarranged in or on the track.

[0067]FIG. 3 is a side view of a tracklaying vehicle 1 according to theinvention.

[0068] The drive train proper, which consists of internal combustionengine 2, generator 10, electronic high-performance means 21 andelectric motor 11 for the drive sprocket 4, is arranged in theillustrated embodiment substantially centrally in the longitudinaldirection of the tracklaying vehicle 1. As for the spatial arrangementof the components, there is maximum freedom of design by virtue of theelectrical connection of said components; as a consequence, it ispossible to arrange the drive train on the tracklaying vehicle indifferent ways. In the illustrated embodiment, the electric motor 11 isdirectly assigned to the drive sprocket 4 which drives a track 5.

[0069] The tracklaying vehicle 1 comprises as further vehicle components15, 16 a loading platform 31 and a driver's cab 32. These parts aretiltable by electric or electrohydraulic drives (not shown).

[0070] A control block 22 and 23, respectively, is arranged at the frontand at the rear of the tracklaying vehicle 1. By analogy with FIG. 1,the block is designed with an electrohydraulic drive 18 as the accessorydrive 6. These control blocks 22, 23 serve, for instance, to operate anadjusting means for push frame, front snow plow blower or devicecarrier, which are not illustrated for the sake of simplicity. Referencenumerals 9 and 18 a outline only the principle of a front snow plowblower to be arranged on the corresponding front device carrier 18 a ofthe tracklaying vehicle 1.

[0071] The vehicle control unit 28 and a diagnosis means 25 are arrangedinside the driver's cab. The diagnosis means serves maintenance andinspection purposes. The diagnosis means can also be arranged at adifferent location of the tracklaying vehicle 1.

[0072]FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating a further embodiment of atracklaying vehicle 1. Like reference numerals designate like parts andare only mentioned in part.

[0073] At the rear of the tracklaying vehicle 1, a rotary snow plow witha downstream smoothing blade is arranged as an additional device 8. Thesnow plow comprises a shaft which is driven by an electric drive 19. Theadditional device 8 is adjustably and pivotably supported at the rear ofthe tracklaying vehicle 1 via a corresponding kinematic adjusting meanswith electrohydraulic drive 18.

[0074] The kinematic adjusting means for the additional device 8 can beoperated via the rear control block 23, the electrohydraulic drive 18being contained in the rear control block 23 in such a case.

[0075] A winch which comprises a reel with an electric drive 19 isarranged as a further additional device 7 on the loading platform 31.

[0076] Further additional devices or vehicle components, such as tracktensioner, parking brake, front device carrier, or the like, are notshown in FIGS. 3 and 4 for reasons of simplification.

1. A piste-maintenance tracklaying vehicle (1) comprising an internalcombustion engine (2) which is drivingly connected, preferably via agear (3, 13, 14), to a drive sprocket (4) of each track (5), andaccessory drives (6) for additional devices (7, 8, 9) that are mountableon said tracklaying vehicle (1), such as rotary snow plow, front snowplow blower, or the like, and/or for vehicle components (15, 16, 17),such as a tilting device for a platform and drivers cab or tracktensioner, characterized in that said internal combustion engine (2) isconnected via a generator (10) and at least one electric motor (11, 12)and possibly a gear (13, 14) to each drive sprocket (4), and in overrunmode said electric motor (11, 12) is switchable as a current generatorfor accessory drives (6) designed as electrohydraulic or electric drives(18, 19), at least said electric drive (19) for a shaft of said rotarysnow plow being synchronized with the electric motor (11, 12) of saiddrive sprocket (4).
 2. The tracklaying vehicle according to claim 1,characterized in that each drive sprocket (4) is drivingly connected toa separate electric motor (11, 12).
 3. The tracklaying vehicle accordingto claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a planetary gear (13, 14) isarranged between electric motor (11, 12) and drive sprocket (4), and asteering gear (3) is arranged in the case of only one electric motor(11, 12) for the drive sprocket (4) of both tracks (5).
 4. Thetracklaying vehicle according to at least one of the preceding claims,characterized in that a hydraulic medium for said electrohydraulic drive(18) is a medium based on water.
 5. The tracklaying vehicle according toat least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that saidtracklaying vehicle (1) is designed with an energy buffer (20) which canbe fed by said generator (10) or by said electric motor (11, 12) whichoperates as a generator.
 6. The tracklaying vehicle according to atleast one of the preceding claims, characterized in that saidtracklaying vehicle (1) comprises an electronic high-performance means(21) for controlling travel engines or motors (2, 11, 12) and/oraccessory drives (6).
 7. The tracklaying vehicle according to at leastone of the preceding claims, characterized in that said internalcombustion engine (2) comprises an electronic engine control.
 8. Thetracklaying vehicle according to at least one of the preceding claims,characterized in that at least the electrohydraulic function units (22,23) for performing vehicle functions (15,18 a), for instance of thefront and rear device carrier, are arranged in a decentralized mannerand comprise an electric motor, a pump, a control block and a hydraulicmedium tank.
 9. The tracklaying vehicle according to any one of thepreceding claims, characterized in that said electronic high-performancemeans (21) is centrally arranged in said tracklaying vehicle (1) fordistributing energy to all consumers (6 to 9, 11, 12, 15 to 24) and forenergy feedback.
 10. The tracklaying vehicle according to at least oneof the preceding claims, characterized in that all components (2, 3, 6to 12, 15 to 25) of said tracklaying vehicle are composed in the mannerof modules.
 11. The tracklaying vehicle according to at least one of thepreceding claims, characterized in that said tracklaying vehicle (1)comprises a parking brake, in particular as a multidisc brake integratedin the planetary gear (13, 14), which is operable by a hydraulic mediumbased on water.
 12. The tracklaying vehicle according to at least one ofthe preceding claims, characterized in that said tracklaying vehicle (1)comprises a winch (24) with an electric drive (19).
 13. The tracklayingvehicle according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterizedin that said tracklaying vehicle (1) comprises a winch (24) with anelectric drive (19) designed for feeding back energy during downhilldriving.
 14. The tracklaying vehicle according to at least one of thepreceding claims, characterized in that said tracklaying vehicle (1)comprises an energy feeding means for the supply of external energy. 15.The tracklaying vehicle according to at least one of the precedingclaims, characterized in that said energy feeding means is designed as atrailing cable or as a coupling system which is adapted to be coupledwith contact wires or current rails.
 16. The tracklaying vehicleaccording to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatsaid tracklaying vehicle (1) has an interconnection means for theenergetic connection to at least one further tracklaying vehicle. 17.The tracklaying vehicle according to at least one of the precedingclaims, characterized in that a heating means of said tracklayingvehicle (1) is fed with waste feed from the motors (11, 12) of thehydraulic system (18) and/or said electronic high-performance means(21).
 18. The tracklaying vehicle according to at least one of thepreceding claims, characterized in that said tracklaying vehicle (1)comprises at least one setpoint transmitter for at least the desiredtraveling speed.
 19. The tracklaying vehicle according to at least oneof the preceding claims, characterized in that said electronichigh-performance means (21) or said vehicle control unit, respectively,is connected to said setpoint transmitter and comprises an electronicevaluation means at least for determining consumption-optimum speeds forsaid internal combustion engine (2).
 20. The tracklaying vehicleaccording to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe gear ratio of snow plow shaft to drive sprocket is adjustable. 21.The tracklaying vehicle according to at least one of the precedingclaims, characterized in that a diagnosis means is arranged on saidtracklaying vehicle (1) for maintenance and inspection of the electriccontrol unit (21, 22, 23).
 22. The tracklaying vehicle according to atleast one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said setpointtransmitter is designed as an accelerator for controlling speed and forbraking purposes.
 23. The tracklaying vehicle according to at least oneof the preceding claims, characterized in that the predeterminedsetpoint is a setpoint of the electric motor speed.
 24. The tracklayingvehicle according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterizedin that the setpoint is convertible by the electronic means into a speedwhich is predetermined for said internal combustion engine.
 25. Thetracklaying vehicle according to at least one of the preceding claims,characterized in that said electronic means comprises a characteristicscontrol unto for determining the consumption-optimum speed.
 26. Thetracklaying vehicle according to at least one of the preceding claims,characterized in that said vehicle has a safety logic for starting andstopping purposes, said logic sensing at least the position of atraveling direction switch, the actuation of said accelerator and ofsaid parking brake.
 27. The tracklaying vehicle according to at leastone of the preceding claims, characterized in that said parking brake isautomatically operable.